- Recent run: Alashkert are unbeaten in five (W3, D2) and are on a current two-game winning streak.
- Form: Elimai FC have won three of their last five, but that run also includes two defeats.
- Home stats: Alashkert average 1.60 goals-per-game at home (W3, D1, L1) while conceding only 0.60 goals-per-game.
Style clash in Armenia
Thursday's UEFA Conference League qualifying clash between Armenia's Alashkert and Elimai FC at Football Academy Stadium should be a fascinating clash of styles between a structured, control-oriented side and a more direct and vertical team. Alashkert boss Vahe Gevorgyan has certainly honed the team into a compact, structure-first side that can control possession, dictate the tempo and keep games simple.
Elimai FC coach Andrey Karpovich has a different game plan for his side, which is to play forward and to get the ball moving in a more progressive direction at pace. The side are a little more willing to take risks and their sharpest edge right now is winger Roman Murtazaev, who has been directly responsible for three of Elimai's eight goals in their last five.
Alashkert edge out Elimai
Recent form
Elimai FC's overall form is mixed, which is not the ideal preparation for an important clash such as Thursday's.
- Their recent results are four wins, two draws and four defeats in the last 10 across all competitions and that spells mixed form to us.
- Alashkert's overall record in the same period is five wins, three draws and two defeats, which looks solid by comparison.
What to expect
So Gevorgyan's side will come into this clash full of confidence and with the ability to frustrate Elimai's forward runners with a game plan that relies on keeping their lines tight and compact.
This should be a close UEFA Conference League qualifier and the bookies have them as the slight favorites, which is about right at 2.05. Elimai have a similar price at 3.07 and the draw is a skinny 3.38.
However, the home team will have enough of an edge to nick this or at the very least avoid defeat and, given how cagey this could be, the under 2.5 goals at 1.74 looks the smart bet here.
